Yes, anthropoligists are trying to understand cultures in a respectful
way, but I believe Heather's paper or whatever was to be on "mainstream"
culture and why there is "a rising trend in cultural sensitivity." I
apologize if I assumed wrongly, but if I didn't, my question isn't so
"pollyanna-ish" when referring to all of society. Anthropologists are the
way they are (respectful of other cultures--we hope!) because most others
aren't entirely respectful (at least without ethnocentrism). As
anthropologists (or students of), we serve as an excellent tool to
understanding our species, the world, how we cope with the
world, etc....cultural sensitivity, on an anthropologist's level,
shouldn't be
considered a rising trend, it should be innate. We all know this isn't
always the case, but you get the point.

--Elaine

On Mon, 11 Dec 1995, Ruby Rohrlich wrote:

> The most important of your good questions to me is: "Are people trying to> understand other cultures more, in a respectful way?" Isn't that what> anthropologists try to do, even though presented this way, it sounds> pollyanna-ish. Ruby Rohrlich>> On Mon, 11 Dec 1995, Elaine Hills (UND) wrote:>> > In my opinion, some causes for increased cultural sensitivity would go> > deeper than just political correctness. Why are people trying to be> > politcally correct? Why are people suddennly aware of this correctness?> > Are people trying to understand other cultures more, in a respectful> > way? Are people trying to assimilate into other cultures? Are people> > trying to make peace of some sort between cultures by possible creating> > more respect? I guess my advice to Heather is to go deeper than just> > those reasons and maybe ask why...often that will lead to further reasons.> >> > --Elaine> >> > On Fri, 8 Dec 1995, Heather M. Bradford wrote:> >> > > Eeryone,> > > I just wanted to clear something up. In a letter to me Dorothy suggested> > > that I needed to do my own work before I asked for help. I was deeply> > > offended that she thought I had not, and then I became concerned that> > > maybe some of you thought the same. So I wanted to let everyone know that I> > > have been doing research in my own library for three days and the anth.> > > dept. here has been helping me as well (one prof. suggested that I ask> > > for help on the list). We have only been able to come up with a limited> > > number of sources, and most do not help. I am looking for causes in the> > > rising trend of cultural sensitivity. I need at least three or four> > > because I have to agrue that one is the best explaination for the cause.> > > So far the only cause that we have been able to come up with is> > > political correctness.> > > Thank you all again,> > > Heather Marie.> > >> > > ===================================================> > > | Heather Bradford | "I am not a committee!" |> > > | hbradfo@comp.uark.edu | --Princess Leia |> > > ===================================================> > >> >>